This study aimed to elucidate the actual support given to wound, ostomy, and continence nurses（WOCNs）by their immediate supervisors, assess the nurses’ intention to continue their work-related activities, and investigate appropriate ways in which immediate supervisors’ can provide support during the training and development of WOCNs. The participants were 45 WOCNs and their immediate supervisors working in Prefecture A. The support was analyzed using a questionnaire containing items based on the workplace social support scale by Komaki et al. and an interview. Questionnaire data from 30 respondents and the content of interviews with six part-time and five full-time WOCN- supervisor pairs were used to analyze the support. The results indicated that the WOCNs were working with other certified nurses in other fields or other facilities with the consent of their immediate supervisors. Of the respondents, 56.7% had no opportunity to consult with their immediate supervisor and felt dissatisfied with the lack of emotional support and feedback. Sixty percent of WOCNs responded that they intended to continue their activities, but 40% responded that they were uncertain. The effect of emotional, evaluative, and informative support on the nurses’ intention to continue their activities differed significantly according to the workplace social support scale. These findings suggest that it is critical for the immediate supervisor to support WOCNs in training and development through providing advice on nursing management, emotional support, and feedback as ways of acknowledging their activities.

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　Background: As the population ages, the number of operations for ostomy construction and the need for stoma management increases. On the other hand, the length of hospitalization has been shortened, but it is difficult for nurses to decide which skills to train patients in for their independence in stoma management during hospitalization.
　Objectives: The degree of independence of the three items of stoma management, changing, emptying, and ordering the ostomy pouch, was surveyed by self-reported questionnaires to clarify the relationship of independence with the current age and stoma duration in Japan.
　Methods: In total, 3,000 ostomates from the client list of 14 ostomy appliance sales agents throughout Japan were invited to the study. To investigate the relationship, the independence of the three stoma management items was analyzed by Chi-square and Cochran-Armitage trend tests according to duration and current age group.
　Results: In total, 1,086 participants（36%）, including 640 men and 436 women, were recruited. Of the participants, 72% were independent in changing the ostomy pouch, 93% in emptying, and 77% in ordering. The proportions of those independent in stoma management were lower for changing and ordering, consistent with the shortness of stoma duration and age of the ostomates; however, almost the same proportion was observed for emptying among ages.
　Conclusions: For hospitalized elderly ostomates, emptying of the ostomy pouch is a basic skill, whereas long-term support is needed for changing and ordering the ostomy pouch.

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